Thank you for listening to Servants for Christ. In all that we do, in all that we say, we want to give glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for tuning us in as we get into the wonderful Word of God. For the next few minutes, let's take the beautiful Word of God and share it with each and every one of you as we have a sense of anticipation to take the Word of God and to listen to its truth for each and every one. Amen, thank you for tuning us in, I'm Darrell Bailey. Service for Christ as we get into our Bible study, Jonathan Beyond the Spotlight. embracing the role. I'm glad that just like Batman had Robin, the Lone Ranger had Tonto, even Paul had a Barnabas and several other missionary companions. And while the focus often remains on the primary figure, the sidekick plays a very crucial role. Who helps you manage life's challenges? Who supports you during those tough times? Who shares in your triumphs? Listen, Have you been supportive as a figure for someone close by in your work area, in your class, in your school, in your church? You see, it's from the sidekicks in the Old Testament and the New Testament that we learn the importance of teamwork, the virtues that we should embody, the pitfalls we must avoid, and the rewards of being a part of a unified team. God designed us to work together, supporting one another, and excelling in our roles, no matter our position or title, whether in the spotlight or behind the scenes. Being a faithful Christian involves letting our light shine. You know, leadership is demanding, and leading without support is even more challenging. Encouragers and supporters are essential. And so, do you view yourself as more than just a sidekick? I'm gonna tell you, Take your Bibles over to 1 Samuel chapter 18, verses one through four, and then we'll turn over to 1 Samuel chapter 19, verses one through four, and then thirdly, we'll turn over to 1 Samuel chapter 23, verses 15 through 18. You know, everybody wants you to tell you how to live your life, and they sound out some kind of godly counsel, to try to help us all in our times of trouble. Those that are immersed in the world should be carefully weighed in light of God's word. You see, the culture of the world today is ever-changing. It is getting ever more immoral, away from the standards of God's word. God doesn't change. And with we see him, When God is at work, we can embrace everything that He has. We can join in with Him. In the three different places of the Word of God that we'll be getting into in Jonathan, Beyond the Spotlight, In 1 Samuel 18, the scripture introduced Jonathan as one of King Saul's commanders, and I'm glad that it doesn't reveal his relationship to Saul until later. Jonathan's battlefield observations during the conflicts between Israel and the Philistines were followed by watching Saul and the rest of the army. quiver in fear during the 40 days of Goliath's challenges to Israel, perhaps degrading his opinion of Saul's leadership. But David did what Israel's king should have done. He led the fight against Israel's enemy. And when David killed the giant and the Israelites armed and chased the Philistine army to a humiliating defeat, Jonathan riveted his devotion on the new champion of Israel. When we look at 1 Samuel chapter 19, Saul's festering jealousy over David's successes, they lead Saul to make several attempts to kill him. First, Saul tried to kill David by spearing him. and then failing twice in 1 Samuel 18. Then he assigned David to a command that took him into conflict with the Philistines and where Saul hoped that his commander would become a casualty of the fighting. Saul crafted another plan involving his servants and a daughter. However, that plan, it didn't succeed either. And so, driven by paranoid jealousy and what he perceived as a serious threat to his throne and dynasty, Saul ramped up attacks on his rival. Then later on in 1 Samuel chapter 23, Jonathan's interpretation resulted in David returning to Saul's house. The king still attempted to kill David, but David took refuge with the prophet Samuel, and David knew Saul wouldn't stop pursuing him until he had killed him. Saul even tried to kill his own son, but Jonathan escaped to warn David. David took matters into his own hands and sought refuge in the Philistine city of Gath in 1 Samuel chapter 21. His actions cost many instant lives in 1 Samuel chapter 22. But from this tragedy, David learned again to depend on the Lord to escape Saul. And King Saul searched for David with fierce determination. David followed God's guidance to move from Calia and stayed in the hill country in 1 Samuel chapter 23. Now, you know what? Every one of us, as we go through life, Can you imagine when Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022? The world watched an event most that they had never seen in their lifetime, the end of the reign and bearer of the United Kingdom's longest reigning monarch. Because in May of 2023, her oldest son, Charles, the next in line to the throne, was crowned the next king. This line of succession had been understood since 1952, when his mother became queen. If a simple commoner had been chosen to ascend to the throne, and King Charles had agreed to someone else receiving his birthright, it would have been perceived as unusual. However, this is exactly what occurred with King Saul's son, Jonathan. You know, when we look and realize that don't let the cultural expectations define your role. And so, every one of us, when we look We ask God to show us where he is at work and help us in that area. In 1 Samuel chapter 18, before we read, let's get into the word of God. Father, we thank you so much for the word. And Lord, as we get into the wonderful word of God, I pray, God, that Lord, that you will give us the ability Lord, to teach your word in this Bible study, and Lord, to let it be the one that helps us to look at ourselves and realize, Lord, that each and every one of us have a spotlight, that we can embrace that role, because whether we're a sidekick or not, it plays a crucial part of being one that shares in the triumphs and the supportive roles of life across the journey that we go through today. Help us, Lord, to be more like you. Let our lights reflect and shine in the darkest areas to lighten it up. and to bring the gospel into the lives of those that are discouraged. Those, Lord, I see some that are so smart and intelligent, but they struggle with very common things that they're so vain in their life. that they need help from a higher power than we're able to give. Father, we just want to keep on pointing souls to Calvary and telling them about Jesus and let them know that all of us, that we can preach a better sermon. with our life than we can with our lips. In Jesus' marvelous mighty name, amen. In 1 Samuel chapter 18, verses one through four, the Bible tells us, and it came to pass, that when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul, and Saul took him that day and would let him go no more home to his father's house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to David and his garments, even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle. You know what? King Saul's son, Jonathan, was the oldest son in the king's immediate family, and therein the natural heir to the throne. However, God had anointed David, a commoner who was the youngest son of Jesse in Bethlehem, as the next king of Israel. Jonathan, who would have worked closely with David in the king's court, didn't push back against David. ascended the throne. Jonathan saw that God's hand was on David's life and he was willing to help his friend in his role as the leader of Israel. You know, the expectation was that Jonathan would assume the throne of Israel. But one of the first things that we see in 1 Samuel chapter 18 verses 1 through 4 is don't stumble over role expectations. The expectation was that Jonathan would assume the throne of Israel but following his father as king. However, God, who is the supreme king over everything and everyone, had a different plan. Jonathan and David were close friends. In modern-day language, we'd call them kindred spirits. Jonathan recognized that David would be the next king of Israel and affirmed the line of succession by giving David his robe, signifying a handling over of his right to the throne, and his military tunic and weapons signifying his leading of the army of Israel. And so, when we look, And we realize that Jonathan was knit with the soul of David. Amen. They had a lot in common, David and Jonathan. They both demonstrated courage in fighting the enemy and both possessed profound faith in God. He loved him as his own soul. And I'm glad, while some of us rush to form an unsolid opinion concerning the nature of their relationship, no possible scriptural basis exists to describe their relationship as going beyond that of two friends. But the Hebrew word used in the verse described Saul's fondness for David. If the writer intended to mean their relationship included some kind of closer activity or desire. But another Hebrew word meaning to know would have been used and it was not. That word is never used to describe the relationship between Jonathan and David. And so I'm glad that when we look and realize that Saul took him that day and would not let him go no more home because David served only as a musician. He stayed at the king's residence when Saul's disposition required it. And Saul gladly honored this promising young soldier by bringing him to live permanently in the royal residence. Jonathan and David made a covenant, and I'm glad that each vowing not to break the covenant on the pain of death, a covenant that one party would pledged to bless or serve the other in a Pacific way. And so, I'm glad, without stating it in definite terms, they pledged their friendship and loyalty to one another. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, gave it to David. the royal robe that identified Jonathan's status as the king's son, his act of giving his robe to David that would indicate that he had at least some knowledge of Samuel's secret anointing of David as the future king of Israel, and by giving his robe to David, Jonathan acknowledged that he believed David would one day succeed Saul as the king of Israel. As his garments even his sword, and to his bow and his girdle, During the covenant moment, Jonathan yielded all the symbols of his royalty and his daily warrior's garment and belt along with his weapons to David. These gifts represented his willingness to surrender his right to the throne and to transfer it to Israel's new champion. And by doing so, Jonathan expressed his loyalty to David and his acceptance of God's will for Israel and David. And so, we see in 1 Samuel chapter 18 verses 1 through 4 that we don't need to stumble over our role expectations but in 1 Samuel 19 chapter 19 verses 1 through 4 we also see the correct unwarranted of accusations because here The Bible says in verse one of Samuel 19, and Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David, and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul, my father seeketh to kill thee. Now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself, and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where there are. and I will commune with my father of thee, and what I see, that I will tell thee. In verse four, and Jonathan spake good of David until Saul, his father, said unto him, let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee weren't very good. Here we see the correct unwarranted accusations that had been given. And so the king ordered all of his men, including Jonathan, to kill David. But Jonathan found David to let him know that Saul intended to kill him. Jonathan then corrected, not only the words Saul spoke about David, but he also told Saul, let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee very good. Imagine the courage that it took for Jonathan to stand up against his father, the king, amen. Notice the connection to the point that as it was summoned that Jonathan would support his own father's actions and opinion, but instead Jonathan spoke up against Saul's beliefs about David. Saul spake to Jonathan his son and to all of his servants that they should kill David. And so, as the king talked openly with his son and officers regarding his intent, he likely spoke of David's death as a necessary evil. And as he ordered his son and attendants to assassinate David, by telling Jonathan, Saul unwittingly provided a way for David to learn about the conflict. Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David, and hearing Saul's order to kill David brought about an eternal crisis for Jonathan. They had promised to meet each other needs and look after each other's welfare. And so Saul, saying, Saul, my father seeketh to kill thee. And so Jonathan refused to help in Saul's insane attempt to kill David. Jonathan secretly brought David up to speed on Saul's intention to kill him. And so, to take heed to thyself unto the morning, Perhaps he feared some in the king's court were all too ready to commit the crime for Saul. But I'm glad Jonathan proposed a plan for David to conceal himself in an open field or some garden where Saul may have often walked to consult with his friends and counselors. And this would keep Jonathan from having to go far away from his father or raise suspicion when he went to brief David and give him the opportunity to look and draw his own conclusions. And so by taking a stand beside his father, Jonathan put himself as a go-between on David's behalf. He would join Saul and plead with him not to do away with David. And so Jonathan's goal was twofold, attempting to dissuade Saul's intentions and reporting the outcome to David. Jonathan did more than secretly help David with information. He argued on David's behalf before the king, knowing Saul's temperament. He could have done so without possible hazard to himself. Jonathan addressed his father formally as the king, speaking with boldness, and he called Saul's plan to assassinate David's sin, urging his father. not to go through with the consequences of his action. Shedding innocent blood would have led to blood guilt according to the law of Deuteronomy chapter 19. And so Saul seemingly believed David had sinned against him and had convinced himself that he was acting righteously. But Jonathan delivered a needed word. He did not form his argument on his feelings about David. He reasoned that David had done nothing wrong and so Saul had no need to retaliate. David risked his life when he killed the dreaded giant. He defeated the Philistines on several occasions. Jonathan reasoned that David's actions had provided the king with political and military advantages, and David had provided invaluable service for both the king and for the nation of Israel. Take your Bibles, lastly, to 1 Samuel chapter 23, verses 15 through 18, and the word of God. that will talk about how that we see our role from God's perspective. We talked about how that in 1 Samuel 18 verses 1 through 4, don't stumble over role expectations. We also talked about how that in 1 Samuel chapter 19 verses 1 through 4, we talked about the correct unwarranted accusations that were being done. But here in 1 Samuel chapter 23 verses 15 through 18, lastly we see your role from God's perspective. The Word of God says in verse 15, And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life. And David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. And Jonathan saw sun arose and went to David into the wood and strengthened his hand in God, in verse 17. And he said unto him, fear not, for the hand of Saul, my father, shall not find thee, and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee. And that also Saul, my father, knoweth, in verse 18. And they too made a covenant before the Lord, and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house. I'm glad that Jonathan knew that he wasn't going to be the next king of Israel, but that didn't stop him from supporting the one who would be. Jonathan encouraged David based on David's faith in God. Boy, if we could see more of this in America, if we could see more of this in the White House, if we could see more of this in business, in the workplace, Boy, how far that we would go. Clearly, Jonathan knew that it was God's goodwill and planned for David to be Israel's next king. And he didn't fight against it. He was willing to be a true friend to his friend. And so I'm glad that when we look, Jonathan recognized that God was at work in David's life and accepted the role God had given him in that relationship. And I'm glad that when we look at with David on his heels, David and his men hunkered down in the wooded area. The mountainous wilderness that have tested David's faith and courage, God guided and protected David there. And I'm glad that he learned to become a man after God's heart as a shepherd. But here in the wilderness, God would shape him as a king. Perhaps weary both physically and spiritually, David may have been discouraged to learn Saul remained resolved to take his life. and so obsessed with killing David, Saul focused everything that he had on a single pursuit, even to the neglect of his own main responsibilities as king of Israel. While Saul looked for David, Jonathan found him, not traveling with a large armed force like the king, The noble-minded Prince Jonathan easily made his way to David before his father, and he could not have come at a more opportune moment. David's self-denying friend brought comfort to him. Jonathan could not stay with David, but he could give him the precious gift of encouragement. And Jonathan reminded David of God's faithful promises to him and that God would never leave him. You know, everything continues mounting up against David. But with Saul's power and determination to retaliate against everyone who got in his way, the death toll in the town of Nob testified to the fact Jonathan attempted to squash David's fear by outlining several reasons not to be afraid. Jonathan assured David that Saul would not find him despite his persistent and deadly search. He told David to reject any fear that he may have had because God would ultimately protect him from Saul. And another reason Jonathan gave David not to be afraid came from confidence that God's promise would come to pass. If God had proposed that David would become the next king, then no one, including Saul, could prevent it from happening. And Jonathan seemed to take pleasure in the prospect of David's advancement to the throne. Finally, Jonathan told David that he could reject his fear because he had a loyal friend who would willingly serve him. And Jonathan never got to reign with David because he died in the battle with his father in 1 Samuel chapter 31. But Jonathan had not kept his loyalty to David a secret from his father, and this may have encouraged others in the kingdom to throw their support to David. Saul likely had come to believe David would succeed him as king, although Saul knew that it would happen. He fought against the will of God with everything that he had. Jonathan and David had already made a covenant, but now renewed their friendship and covenant in the presence of the Lord, meaning they fully trusted in God's promises. And that renewing and that reconfirming their covenant strengthened their commitment to one another. And so I'm glad the threat from Saul meant they could not remain together. While Jonathan went home to Gabith where Saul was, he had accomplished his mission and David and Jonathan never saw each other again on earth. I hope and pray that Jonathan didn't push back against David ascending to the throne. Jonathan saw that God's hand was on David's life, and he was willing to help his friend in his role as a leader of Israel. I hope and pray that each and every one of us, as our goals, that we consider the interest of others. Ask the Lord to help you see the goals and the perspective of others, not only your own, but those that are around you, that you may be able to help them in a way that you can focus the spotlight of God. Amen. And so, oh so, that we can serve because the Lord has called us to serve and because of the expectation of others. Where do we need to align ourselves with the Lord to help someone else? Just as Jonathan helped David find strength in God, we can strengthen each other by speaking God's truth. And when a friend comes to you for counsel, take a moment to pray with that person. and ask God to show you his perspective and his situation. Amen. I thank God that I have some good friends like that, that they prayed with me and they asked God to heal my body when I was going through a difficult time of sickness. And I'm glad that those are some of the best friends, some that I went to school with, that I went to church with. that are a mighty friend and that are great prayer warriors. There's nothing that I wouldn't do for them to help them during this time. And so, Jonathan was willing to relinquish his position in submission to God's plan for David. I'm glad that you and I, that we can position ourselves in a role for God's perspective and help those in their time of need. Father, thank you for saving us by your marvelous grace as we can be beyond the spotlight and embrace that role as a sidekick that plays a crucialness to help someone else, to support them during tough times, and to share in our triumphs, and to be a supportive figure for someone else. Lord, may our teamwork, may our virtues embody, may we go forward to help someone else and unify our team as God designed us to work together to support one another and to excel in our roles, no matter our position, no matter our title. Whether the spotlight or whether we're behind the scenes, may we be a faithful Christian that involves letting our light shine to those around us. In Jesus's marvelous mighty name, amen. you